Recording system



Nov. 11, 1952 R. F. MALLINA 2,617,704

RECORDING SYSTEM Filed July 15. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m/vav TOP A. f MALL INA ATTORNEY Nov. 11, 1952 Filed July '15. 1947 R. F. MALLINARECORDING SYSTEM :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VE N TOR A T TORNE) Nov. 11, 1952R. F. MALLINA 2,617,704

RECORDING SYSTEM Filed July 15. 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet s FIG. 3

INVENTOR, Rf ALL/NA,

Patented Nov. 11, 1952 RECORDING SYSTEM Rudolph F. Mallina,Hastings-on-Hudson, N. Y.,

assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y.,a corporation of New York Application July 15, 1947, Serial No. 761,051

4 Claims.

This invention relates to magnetic recording systems and particularly tosystems for assembling magnetically-recorded data.

Magnetic recorders are a convenient means of recording data since alarge amount of information may be recorded on a small bulk of magneticmedium. Characters, such as letters or numbers, may be recorded asmagnetized spots, the position, magnetic characteristics, or othercharacteristics of each spot indicating the particular characterrepresented by it. Items of information of any kind may be representedby groups of such spots. However, such records are not visible andvisual or audible reproductions of them by the usual means are notintelligible. New techniques are required to handle data recorded inthis manner.

The present invention discloses a system for automatically assemblingrelated items of information recorded in random sequence on a magneticmedium. A feature of the invention is a means whereby the recorders onwhich the data is originally recorded may be used for reclassifying thedata. Another feature of the invention is that none of the magneticmedia used need be removed from the recording devices in the processesof assembling the data.

These and other features of the invention will be more apparent from theaccompanying description, the appended claims, and the drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 shows the magnetic recorders, the tapes of which contain the datato be assembled;

Fig. 2 shows the selecting circuits; and

Fig. 3 shows the magnetic recorders on which assembled data is recorded.

To completely disclose the invention, Fig. 2 should be placed to theright of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 to the right of Fig. 2.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the data to be assembledconsists of groups of sequential magnetized spots representing digits onthe tapes of the magnetic recorders R R9, each group constituting anitem of data. Each magnetized spot is the record of a combination of twoelectrical frequencies, the digit represented by said spot beingindicated by the particular combination of frequencies. The frequenciesused for recording the first digit of each group are chosen from fivedistinctive frequencies and the frequencies used for recording thesecond digit of each group are chosen from another five frequenciesbeyond .the range of the frequencies used for recording the first digit.These two digits in each group are indicative of the character of theinformation represented by subsequent digits of the group. Thesubsequent digits are recorded by combinations of frequencies beyond therange of the frequencies used for the first two digits. The recorders R0R9 may be used to record the original data or it may be recorded on thetapes of said recorders by other means.

The five band-pass filters Fl F5 are each adapted to pass only one ofthe five frequencies used to form the record of the first digit in eachgroup. The five similar filters FFI FF5 are each adapted to pass onlyone of the five frequencies used to form the record of the second digitof each group. None of said filters pass the frequencies used to formthe record of the remainder of the digits in each group.

The magnetic recorders RID RIB are provided for re-recording theassembled information and are similar to the recorders R9 R9. Eachrecorder has a reproducing magnet, a reproducing and recording magnet,and an erasing magnet, such as the magnets SMO, RMU and EMQ,respectively, of recorder R0. Each of the recorders also has the usualdriving motor (indicated but not shown) which, in addition to drivingthe tape Of the recorder, also actuates a cam, such as the cam CMO ofrecorder R0, which opens the associated contacts C0 after each group ofrecorded signals has passed the magnet RM!) and before another group ofrecorded signals has reached the magnet SMO.

To assemble the items of information recorded on the tapes of therecorders R0 R9, switches SI and S2 are thrown to the left and switch S3is thrown to the right. If the items are to be assembled in accordancewith the first digit of each item, switch S is thrown to the left. Ifthey are to be assembled in accordance with the second digit, switch Sis thrown to the right. It will be assumed that the items are first tobe assembled in accordance with the first digit and switch S, therefore,is thrown to the left.

The items recorded on any one of the recorders R0 R9 may now beassembled. Assuming that recorder R0 is chosen, switch SW0 is closed,completing the circuit of the driving motor of said recorder from thepower source P through said driving motor and contacts of said switch toground, energizing said motor, which drives the tape of recorder R0 inthe direction of the arrow. When the first signal of a group passes thereproducing magnet SMO, the two frequencies used in recording saidsignal are induced in 3 said magnet and transmitted over conductor 59 toamplifier A, which may be of any suitable type, are amplified thereinand applied to the filters Fl F and FF'I FF5. Assumin that said signalrepresents the digit 1 recorded by the two frequencies to which filtersF! and F2 respond, one of said frequencies is transmitted through filterFI and contacts of switch S to the starting anode of the triode gas tubeGil. The main anode of said tube is supplied with potential from batterythrough the winding of relay RLEI which, while sufiicient to maintainconduction in said tube, is insufiicient to initiate conduction. When,however, the potential of the starting anode of said tube is raised by apositive cycle of the frequency applied to it through filter F5, saidtube fires and conducts over a circuit extending from battery throughthe winding of relay RLB, the anode-cathode space of said tube,

conductor 5|, contacts CB, which are now closed a by cam CMil, andcontacts of switch SW9, to ground, operating relay RLB. Likewise, theother of said frequencies transmitted through filter F2 and contacts ofswitch S to the starting anode of .gas tube Gl, which is arrangedsimilarly to tube Gil, causes said tube to conduct over a circuitextending from battery through the winding of relay RL! and theanode-cathode space of said tube, to ground on conductor 5!, operatingrelay RL. By the operation of relay-s RLE] and RLI, a circuit iscompleted from the power source Pi through the driving motor of recorderRI I, conductor '52, No. 1 contacts of switch S3, conductor 53 withinbracket 54, No. 5 contacts of relay RLI, and No. 5- contaets of relayRLU to ground, energizing said motor to drive the tape of said recorder.

When subsequent signals of the first item of data recorded on the. tapeof recorder R'il pass the reproducing magnet SMB, frequencies areinduced in said magnet'wmch are amplified in amplifier A, but none ofsaid frequencies are frequencies which are passed by any of the filtersFl F5. When signals on the tape of recorder Rii pass the magnet RMO,however, frequencies are induced in said magnet which are transmittedover conductor 55 within bracket 56 through No. 0 contacts of switch S1and conductor 51 to amplifier Al, which may be of any suitable type, andamplified therein. The amplified frequencies pass through No. 1 contactsof relay RLS, No. 1 contacts of relay RL'l', conductor 53, No. 1contacts of switch S2, conductor 59 within bracket 66,'and the windingof the. recording magnet RMI l to ground. Signals corresponding to those"on the tapeof recorder R8 are thereby recorded on the tape of recorderRI l. When the last signal of the group of signals representing an itemof data on the tape of recorder R0 has passed magnet RMG, cam 0M0 openscontactsCiJ. The circuits of relays RLO and RL are thereby opened'andsaid relays released, opening the circuit of and stopping the drivingmotor of recorder RI 1. The gas tubes G8 and GI included in thecircuits. of relays RLi] and BL! cease to conduct.

When the nest signal recorded on the tape of recorder R9, which is thefirst signal of another item of data, passes the magnet SMG, an actiontakes place similar to that already described. Assuming, however, thatsaid signal represents the digit 2 recorded by frequencies to whichfilters F! and F3 respond, relays EL!) and RL2 are operated inthemannerdescribed above completing a circuit from the power source Pl throughthe driving motor of recorder R12, conductor 6|, No. 2 contacts ofswitch S2, conductor 62 within bracket 5 No. 5 contacts of relay RLZ,and No. 6 contacts of relay RLU to ground, energizing said driving motorto drive the tape of recorder RIZ. Signals on the tape of recorder R9now passing magnet RMU induce frequencies which are amplified byamplifier Al, as described above, and transmitted through No. 2 contactsof relay RLli, No. 1 contacts of relay RL2, conductor 53, No. 2 contactsof switch S2, conductor 64 within bracket 60, and the winding of magnetRMIZ to ground. The group of signals of the second item of data on thetape of recorder R8 is thereby rerecorded on the tape of recorder RIZ.When the contacts Ci] are opened by cam CMD, the circuits of relays RLBand RL2 are opened and said relays released stopping the motor ofrecorder R12. Gas tubes G0 and G2, included in said circuits, cease toconduct.

In like manner, each group of signals representing an item of data onthe tape of recorder R9 is rerecorded on a selected one of the recordersRIB RIS, the particular recorder selected corresponding to the firstdigit of the group. All items in which the first digit is 1 are therebyassembled on the tape of recorder RH, all items in which the first digitis 2 are assembled on the tape of recorder R12, etc. When all items onthe tape of recorder Ri] have. been thus rerecorded and assembled, saidrecorder may be stopped by opening switch SW0 and any other of therecorders R8 R9 put into operation by closing its associated switch. Theoperation described above will then be repeated with respect to thesecond recorder. Thus all items recorded on the tapes of the recordersR6 Re are assembled on the tapes of recorders RIG R19 in accordance withthe first digit in each item, each of recorders Rlfi R19 now havingrecorded therein all the items of the original record which have thesame first digit.

During the operation of recorders RB R9 the erasing magnets EMQ EMQ maybe energized by an suitable means, thus erasing the original record ofeach item after it has been transmitted and rerecorded on one of therecorders R i'fl 'RIQ. Recorders RH R9 are now free to serve for asecond assembling of the "rerecorded data in accordance with theseconddigit in each item. Switches SI and S2 are thrown to the right andswitch S3 to'the 1eft. Switch '5 is thrown :to the right. Any one of therecorders RIO R19, for example, recorder RI'l, may now be started byclosing switch SW17. A signal representing the first digit of a grouprecorded on the tape of said recorder passing magnet SMII will inducefrequencies therein but, said frequencies are not those to which anyfofthe filters FFl FF5 respond. When the, signal representing the seconddigit passes. magnet SMI T, however, frequencies are induced thereinwhich, transmitted; over conductor 58, and amplified by amplifier A,arepa'ssed by. two of, the. mter's FF! FF5, actuating two of the gastubes G0 Gland two of therelays RLU RL'I, therebyselecting one of therecorders R6 R9 and recording signals thereon in the manner alreadydescribed. Thus, the items/are assembled in accordance with the firsttwo digits in each item. For example, recorder. RI! h'a's-rfecordedtherein all'the iter'nshavi'n'g the first digit 7. When these aretransferred to recorders RB R9 in the manner described above, recorderRU contains all the items commencing with the digits 70, recorder RI hasall the items commencing with the digits 71, etc. During thetransmission of signals from recorders RH) Bill, the erasing magnets ofsaid recorders may be energized, erasing the signals from the tapes ofsaid recorders, which are then ready to receive signals from recordersR9 R9 in another assembling operation similar to those described above.It is obvious that, by the provision of additional filters similar tofilters FFI FF5 but responsive to frequencies employed to record othersignals in each group, the data may be further assembled in accordancewith other indices and that this process may be repeated indefinitelywith as many indices as desired.

While in the present embodiment of the invention, ten recorders areprovided in each of the groups R0 R9 and RH] R19, any number ofrecorders may be used to suit the character of the indices by which thedata is to be assembled and said indices may, of course, have anysignificance.

While I have illustrated my invention by a particular embodimentthereof, it is not limited to said embodiment nor to the specificarrangements disclosed herein. It will be apparent to one skilled in theart that various applications, modifications, and arrangements otherthan those disclosed herein, are within the scope of the invention. Theterms and expressions which I have employed in reference to thisinvention and its elements are used as terms of description and not oflimitation, and I have no intention in the use of such terms andexpressions of excluding thereby equivalents of the features shown anddescribed or portions thereof but, on the contrary, intend to includetherein any and all equivalents and modifications which may be employedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a recording system, a plurality of first magnetic recorders eachhaving signals on the magnetic medium thereof, a plurality of secondmagnetic recorders, means responsive to signals on the media of each ofsaid first magnetic recorders for successively selecting one of saidsecond recorders, means for transferring the signals from the media ofsaid first recorders to the media of said second recorders, means forremoving the signals from the media of said first recorders, meansresponsive to signals on the media of each of said second recorders forsuccessively selecting one of said first recorders, and means fortransferring the signals from the media of said second recorders to themedia of said first recorders.

2. In a recording system, a plurality of first recorders having signalsrecorded on the media thereof, said signals comprising frequencies, aplurality of second magnetic recorders, means responsive to thefrequencies of the signals on the media of each of said first recordersfor selecting one of said second recorders, means for transferring thesignals from the media of said first recorders to the media of saidsecond recorders, means for removing the signals from the media of saidfirst recorders, means responsive to the frequencies of the signals onthe media of each of said second recorders for selecting one of saidfirst recorders, and means for transferring the signals from the mediaof said second recorders to the media of said first recorders.

3. A system for classifying recorded items of intelligence havingcharacteristics common to a plurality of said items, comprising incombination two groups or" devices, each of said devices being adaptedto be actuated either as a recorder or as a reproducer of recordeditems, means for successively actuating the devices of either of saidgroups as reproducers of said items or as recorders thereof, and meansfor selecting said devices actuated as recorders to record said items inaccordance with the characteristics of the items reproduced by thedevices actuated as reproducers.

4. A system for classifying recorded items of intelligence having onecharacteristic common to some of said items and another characteristiccommon to others of said items, comprising in combination two groups ofdevices, each of said devices being adapted to be actuated either as arecorder or as a reproducer of recorded items, means for actuating thedevices of a first group of said devices as reproducers of said itemsand of a second group of said devices as recorders, means for selectingthe devices of said second group to record said items in accordance withthe characteristics of the items reproduced by said first group, meansfor actuating the devices of said second group of devices as reproducersof said items and for actuating the devices of said first group ofdevices as recorders, and means for selecting the devices of said firstgroup to record said items in accordance with the characteristics of theitems reproduced by the devices of said second group.

RUDOLPH F. MALLINA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,080,100 Tauschek May 11, 19372,165,924 Goodrum et al July 11, 1939 2,165,925 Goodrum et a1 July 11,1939 2,268,203 Carpenter et al Dec. 30, 1941 2,298,608 Bates Oct. 13,1942 2,380,894 Colman July 31, 1945 2,401,888 Smith June 11, 19462,406,353 Myers Aug. 27, 1946 2,427,383 Bryce Sept. 16, 1947 2,579,831Keinath Dec. 25, 1951

